She was wondering a little why he had chosen to make this confidence.
Suddenly he turned in his chair and enlightened her.

"If you want to know what sort of animal I am," he said, his eyes going direct to hers, "if you want to know if I am worthy of a woman's confidence--in short, if I'm a white man or--the other thing, ask Kersley Whitton.

For he is the only person in the world who knows." The words were blunt, perhaps all the more so for the unwonted touch of fiery feeling which Olga was quick to detect in their utterance.

They moved her strangely.

It was almost as if he had flung open his soul to her, challenging her to enter and satisfy herself.